What long gun do you consider most beautiful.

[bear67]

Was cleaning a few guns after a range afternoon and after closing the safe, I got to thinking about guns that just flat look good to me or visually appeal the most. Forget function or handguns for now---just long guns and tell me what you think is sexy or rings your chimes when you see one. You don't have to own the one you choose, but I will bet most of you do or are looking for it to add to your collections.

Mine is the Savage 99--without a doubt the lines and slimmness of the old Savages really draw my attention. Have since I was knee high to a grasshopper and I bought my first one at age 15, just because I could not resist the draw. I will not lie and a 99 causes a rise in the Levi's, but maybe do increase my heart rate a little.

[bob208]

leaveraction winchesters do it for me. but then i could look at a nice 03 for a long time. or even a half stock pa. rifle. i like them all.

[TXGunNut]

In my safe it's a recent-production Winchester M70 Super Grade. Awesome wood, metal finish and overall fit and finish on top of a classic design. Other days it's hard to beat a nice, clean M94. OTOH I have a riot gun named Blondie, girls like her are sometimes beautiful indeed!

[scb]

Winchester HiWall

[firefly1957]

In My safe it is a Sharps-Shilo model 1874 long range Express with 34" Barrel. Second though i have never been real happy with it is a Hatfield flint lock Third a Kodiak .58 X .58 muzzle loader.

[bearcove]

Levergun. Marlin 336 or a win 92 with nice wood.

[plmitch]

1895 Winchester

[nagantguy]

a true "sporting" Mauser not a military one done up nice but one that left the factory with hunting as its primary roll, love the veteran Mausers as well but the lines and elegant fit and finish and ooo those pear shaped bolt handles of the sporters and if it has double set triggers look out I'm buying it. And of course the but ugly nagant rings my bell hard. Useful durable and in my budget even at the worst of times. guess that's two picks but that's okay, ask me a day from now and I might pick two others.

[Rick Hodges]

I am very fond of single shots...the Winchester Highwall...and the Ruger #1 and #3 do it for me.

[texassako]

The Remington #7 rolling block rifle with the tang sight. There is just something that catches my eye in the 100 year old pistol grip single shot, and the curves of the receiver with that sweet sight hanging off the rear point. Of course, I have only ever seen one in pictures. Best pics for those who have not seen one: http://merzantique.com/museum/hard-to-find-remington-no.-7-rolling-block-rifle

[Mk42gunner]

There is just something about a long barreled pistol gripped leveraction rifle with a reciever sight. Such as a Model 64 Winchester or my current Model 336A Marlin. They just look right to me.

There are others though, I think it kind of depends on the mood I'm in. An M-14 or a longish barreled Mauser with a straight tubed scope looks good too.

Robert

[Gunslinger1911]

Sharps '74 for me stays in the front of the safe so I see it whenever I open the door !

[imashooter2]

The Marlin 1894.

[waksupi]

A fine flintlock Pennsylvania rifle.

[btroj]

I am with Waksupi here. A fine long rifle just can't be beat.

[Heavy lead]

My Ruger 77 Mark II Magnum .416 Rigby, with the tri-leaf rear sight, awesome french walnut, and blueing that you can use as a mirror.
It shoots as well too, elegant, over engineered, and not ever for sale.
Aside from that the Ruger No. 1 in all the variants are my favorite.

[Coonazz]

Mauser action with Mannlicher stock. Ruger #1 International a close second...

[Boerrancher]

I would have to say the mod 99 Savage is my number one. I only have a half dozen or so of them and buy every one I can. My second choice is a well made flint lock long rifle or trade gun.

Best wishes

Joe

[dkf]

Hard to say for me. Like a lot of different guns. One that sticks out that I have always wanted is an M1 Garand. May not be the most beautiful chunk of steel and wood but it appeals to me.

[timbuck]

The Ruger Number 1 for me.

[kbstenberg]

To me the Ruger #1 International also. But more important is the wood on the gun. it can make or break a good looking gun. Kevin

[bear67]

Thanks for the replies guys. I see the beauty in everything you like--blue steel and glossy figured wood!
Bear

[Don Purcell]

Any of the old long range Creedmoor rifles.

[deep creek]

I would have to say my Ruger#1 with select wood in 338 win and my 450 marlin the ruger looks sleek and the marlin just looks nasty!

[M-Tecs]

Winchester High Walls do it for me.

[Love Life]

Nothing fancy here, but I will have to say the good, old Remington 700 bolt action rifle. No nonsense, accurate enough from the box, and can be built up to rival the most accurate of rifles for uber cool tactical shooting.


Yep. A Remington 700 with a nice piece of walnut on it does it for me.

[DLCTEX]

Whichever one I'm wanting next.

[Malgus]

1876 Winchester. Northwest Mounted Police Carbine. If only they came in 50-95... (sigh)

70301

Or, if they ran out, the Crossfire Carbine.

70302

[Maineboy]

An 1894 Winchester rifle with a 26 inch octagon barrel and crescent shaped butt stock.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

beauty is realy in the eye of each person , I am in the M1 camp

but then I would rather a lady in jeans and a ball cap than a ball gown and painted face

I think i can count on 1 hand the number of times in the last 15 years my wife has felt the need to get out the war paint for some special event otherwise it's t-shirts and blue jeans

we wear our good t-shirts and jeans to church on Sunday

[Ed Barrett]

A Savage 1899 or a Winchester 1895 always seemed about perfect to me.

[ph4570]

Browning 1885 BPCR.

[GLL]

Of the rifles I actually own I love my .38-55 Ruger #1 and my .38-55 Winchester Highwall.

Jerry

http://www.fototime.com/A2E9333082F31F9/orig.jpg

[fouronesix]

1876 Winchester. Northwest Mounted Police Carbine. If only they came in 50-95... (sigh)
Or, if they ran out, the Crossfire Carbine.


Like this M1876 NWMP Carbine! :)

[zardoz]

70306

[gandydancer]

one of Dave Higginbotham's custom rolling blocks in 45/70. I like the rolling block design. but the one I saw that Dave made.WOW! I was hoping one day to own one. but it was not to be. RIP Dave.

[mac60]

Hi, my name is Mike and I'm a cruffler. Seriously old military bolt actions do it for me, especially the Mausers. The AR15 and such just don't hold any interest for me at all, sometimes I think if I pick up another magazine with an AR15 on the cover I'm gonna scream. Gotta be solid wood and blued steel for me.

[RPRNY]

Almost any rifle in a Mannlicher stock. But in particular, a Sako 85 in 6.5x55 or a Ruger No 1 RSI in 7x57. I'm excluding double rifles for the purposes of this post.

Here's one of my more modest ones : an M49 Persian Mauser in a Fajen Mannlicher stock.

http://m203.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/LRDG/Turkey/Persian%20Mauser%20Carbine/persianmauser1.jpg.html?o=8

[wallenba]

Ruger #1

Or this.... http://www.toytent.com/archives/2340archive.html

[BruceB]

This question has been bothering me ever since it was posted.

Every time I came up with a "most beautiful" candidate, ,my mind would say, "Yeah, but what about XXXX?"

So, tried the opposite approach. "Which long gun (in MY possession) is the LEAST beautiful?" (I've spent some decades cooking-down my battery, so I think the point about "my possession" is valid.)

I couldn't do it, which tells me that I was at least exerting SOME taste when I bought these various guns.

I have no Glocks, or clones of Glocks, or Hi-Points, or French service rifles (ick!) or other such odd stuff. ("Life's too short, to shoot ugly guns!")

We have just three stainless guns; a 629 Mountain Revolver, a 1911A1, and a .338 Savage M116. We have just two synthetic-stocked guns: the Savage, and an Armalite AR15. Two rifles have laminated stocks...a Ruger GSR and a CZ 550 Varminter.

EVERYTHING ELSE is in solid wood (98% walnut) with blue steel, but even our few custom rifles don't overpower the rest of the bunch for "most beautiful".

I'm a hopeless sucker for half-mag-and- pistol-gripped lever guns, and have a couple of them.
U.S. military rifles have a magnetic attraction for me, and I have examples of most of the common ones. SXS double shotguns are like another drug in my book....why can't I have inexpensive tastes? Single-shot rifles, too.....no wonder I can't decide!

I may not sleep for days...

[Dean D.]

A fine flintlock Pennsylvania rifle.

Amen Brother! I spell it "Lancaster", got one and love it! Curly Maple is a thing of beauty in my eyes.

[Harter66]

Burl stocked Model 12 trap.

[wch]

I second the highwall nomination!

[Lloyd Smale]

another vote for the #1 rugers.

[fastcar]

high wall then a full wood number 1

[winelover]

Winchester 9422 Boy Scout Commemorative that Mrs Winelover bought me for X-mas in 1982 IIRC. She picked it out herself and I had no idea what so ever. Was also a Boy Scout in my grade school years, Troop 101. Beautiful figured wood, silver finished receiver depicting different knots that scouts learn. Deep blue barrel that rivals my Colt Royal Blue Python. And yes I do shoot it on occasion.

Winelover

[Tom Myers]

The Marlin 1894.

Yeah!! Right on.

http://www.tmtpages.com/LinkSkyImages/1894%20Marlin/Arm-Rec1894-Marlin.png

Precision Firearm Records (http://tmtpages.com/printarms.htm)

[GabbyM]

Mauser Sporting rifles with receiver sights and nice wood. Stock with clean lines.
Think of Clark Gable shooting crocodiles from a river boat.
I'll take mine in a M-70 Win flavor or one of the fine Montana Rifle Co. examples.

[375RUGER]

Ruger No. 1

[Junior1942]

1873 Winchester

[country gent]

Any of the classic single shots are a big draw for me I have No1s(300 win mag and 220 swift) a martinni cadet ( restocked and rebarreled to 218 bee). Sharps 74 ( 45-70) and a Hepburn on order ( 45-90) all of the old classic style single shots catch my attention and hold it. But then there a 2 M1As (308 national match Krieger barrels Bishop walnut stocks) that have a lot of memories for me after 20+ years as a NRA service rifle competitor too. A time in my life I look back on alot now. All rifles have their aura and can be special. The history and sometimes dings and dents hold a certain romance in them all by themselves. On the side of the 300 no1 is a scratch from sliding down a hill in Michigan on it ( never was noted for my coordination) when I stopped at the bottom I was checkingmyself out ( bumps and bruises was all) I strarted to get up and there was a nice buck looking at me. Laughing? I took him at around 75 yds. Like I said some of the dents dings and scratches are beautiful with the story behind them.

[WILCO]

A clean M44 and 9130 work for me. Another one is the clean lines of the Rossi youth combo in 22lr and .410. It just begs a ride in the canoe or walk about in the woods!

[daniel lawecki]

Weatherby

[Shepherd2]

For me it's a rifle with a Mannlicher stock. I've loved them since I was a kid. Two years ago I got a CZ 550FS in 6.5x55 and it is by far my favorite rifle.

[Artful]

70320
Nice Old World Drilling or Combination
A gun I've never been able to afford

[Wayne Smith]

Don't have one, but for me it is the 1903 Mannlicher/Schonauer (sp!). A very close second is Ric's Penn. Long Rifle, curly Maple stock.

[oldred]

1885 Winchester Highwall!!!!!!!

[GARCIA]

1886 Winchester,OBFM or 1/2 O/R,BM.

[smkummer]

Colt/Sharps single shot and Colt/Sauer drilling. I can't believe my Sten MKII resides in the same safe.

[Fishman]

Hi, my name is Mike and I'm a cruffler. Seriously old military bolt actions do it for me, especially the Mausers. The AR15 and such just don't hold any interest for me at all, sometimes I think if I pick up another magazine with an AR15 on the cover I'm gonna scream. Gotta be solid wood and blued steel for me.

Right on Brother! Couldn't agree more. I am fascinated by the obvious care taken with their manufacture. Although they were all made as tools of war, many are truly works of art. The juxtaposition of art and war represented in a single item is very interesting.

Ok enough with the crackerjack box analyzing of why. I like the long slim mausers, examples being the 1891 Argentine and also the swedes as far as looks go. However I am an equal opportunity collector.

[nitroproof]

Would have to be the flintlock Pennsylvania Long Rifle...

[1Shirt]

A long flinter is hard to beat, but so is a large bore Presentation Grade #1 Ruger!
1Shirt!

[Malgus]

Like this M1876 NWMP Carbine! :)

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Erm... you wouldn't want to... you know.... sell that, would ya?

In all seriousness, that is a thing of rare beauty. Is it 50/95?

[BRobertson]

The Hepburn rifle as being produced by C. Sharps.
Most beautiful rifle I have ever seen!!

Bob

[429421Cowboy]

Winchester 1886, half mag, case colored with a tang sight, just like Teddy had, that to me says sexy and style.

Love the Ruger No. 1, that is a beauty and a beast!

Rigby .416 magazine rifle, Harry Selby style.

[Bullshop]

anything Gemmer ---
like the one here---
http://bullshop.weebly.com/bullets.html

[destrux]

Polish honor guard SKS. Beautiful rifle.

Aside from that the old Winchester pump action 22's from around the 1890's are very slick looking. I have a nice Rossi 62SA replica that I love to look at as much as I love to shoot it.

[nitroproof]

http://www.us-shooter.com/category/rifles/black-powder/

Check this out boys & girls... I wouldn't call it beautiful unless your facing down a T-Rex!
At least the cheek piece is on the correct side.

[smokeywolf]

Volcanic rifle or carbine; predecessor to the Henry.

smokeywolf

[square butte]

I do think that the 1866 Winchesters and Henrys have to be right up there for me - But #1 would have to be Early Flintlock Longrifles - Christian Springs and Lancasters among others.

[fouronesix]

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Erm... you wouldn't want to... you know.... sell that, would ya?

In all seriousness, that is a thing of rare beauty. Is it 50/95?

Not for sale :( thought I'd tease a little. It is an as-issued M1876 NWMP carbine in 45-75. And still retains its "NWMP" cartouche in the stock.

[Malgus]

http://www.us-shooter.com/category/rifles/black-powder/

Check this out boys & girls... I wouldn't call it beautiful unless your facing down a T-Rex!
At least the cheek piece is on the correct side.

A 2 Bore?? Good grief!

The workmanship is exceptional, but he went with a finger four stock?

(well, I always called it a finger four stock... the mortise area where the upper and lower tangs are and the locks make the stock look like 4 prongs when everything is removed. The recoil of 500g of BP going off with a 3600g projo puts tremendous stress on the mortise area... I wonder if he has a stock splitting problem? Unless he reinforced it somehow internally. Would love to take it apart and see what kind of workaround he did..)...

Oh, and I just love the single shot "pistol" that's next to the double rifle... looks like a flare gun. A very, very well made flare gun.

[Malgus]

Not for sale :( thought I'd tease a little. It is an as-issued M1876 NWMP carbine in 45-75. And still retains its "NWMP" cartouche in the stock.

That's okay. I went over to gunbroker and found one for the low, low, bargain basement price of seven grand...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=341040331

Seven grand goes a long ways around here for stuff like feed, patch the barn roof, new clutch for the tractor (and brakes), food, all sorts of stuff...

By the way, how does it shoot? You roll your own ammo? Inquiring minds want to know... :mrgreen:

[grampa243]

i'll have to say stainless and black do it for me. be it a good bolt gun or a AR. and i do like single shot gun of every kind. i seen a No.1 with a stainless custom barrel at the shop last week wish i had the coin for it. i even like glocks ;) but a nice stainless wheel gun looks good too.

heck I like All guns :bigsmyl2:

[GabbyM]

Mauser Sporting rifles with receiver sights and nice wood. Stock with clean lines.
Think of Clark Gable shooting crocodiles from a river boat.
I'll take mine in a M-70 Win flavor or one of the fine Montana Rifle Co. examples.

[white eagle]

win model 7o- featherweight
Ruger #1
ya can't just have one

[starmac]

For a modern factory gun, I would probably have to go with the model 99, but there a lot of levers that I like nearly as well.

Them flinter long rifles are sure purdy though.

[fouronesix]

That's okay. I went over to gunbroker and found one for the low, low, bargain basement price of seven grand...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=341040331

Seven grand goes a long ways around here for stuff like feed, patch the barn roof, new clutch for the tractor (and brakes), food, all sorts of stuff...

By the way, how does it shoot? You roll your own ammo? Inquiring minds want to know... :mrgreen:

You're correct, the "Crossfire Trail" types aren't cheap as the one on GB indicates. The NWMP issued models are much worse! According to Cody and NWMP records, mine was among the last shipments from Winchester to the NWMP in Calgary in 1885. After NWMP service, it was transferred to APP (Alberta Provincial Police) until disposed of as surplus in early 1900s? Records after the initial NWMP issue, are practically nonexistent.

Yes, I do reload for it and shoot it once in a while. It has an exceptional bore and shoots very well. It likes the RCBS 45-300-GC bullet over BP or a BP equivalent light smokeless load.

[Ajax]

For me it would be a nice fullstock pennsylvania flintlock in curly maple and the 1903A3 (which i don't have).


Andy

[10-x]

Tough choice but I love my 09 dated RIA 03 Springfield, then one of the M-1's...........

[marlin39a]

Older Marlin 39's and even 39a's from the 50's.

[Dale in Louisiana]

Tough choice but I love my 09 dated RIA 03 Springfield, then one of the M-1's...........

In reverse order, my M-1 Garand, THEN my 1943 vintage M1903A3. Like a pretty girl in overalls... You just have to know what's there!

dale in Louisiana

[Marvin S]

Lancaster school flint rifles, old lever guns and fine bolt rifles. I once saw a very nice bolt rifle stocked in Osage orange. Almost left out fine english stocked doubles.

[10 ga]

There is in the family, a well taken care of and kept safe from those who would seize it, a hand made punt gun. It was used by certain ancestors and passed down. It has a 6' Monel barrel of 2" bore. Stock is a stout piece of Cherry cut out of a hedgerow from part of the family property. As important is the skiff and light that were made to fit the gun. The skiff is not kept with the gun and isn't really useable now due to age and long term dry storage w/o any use or paint. I get with brothers, uncles and cousins whenever there is a gathering (wedding, baptism, funeral) and make sure all is good and sometimes even go check out the gun. It is beautiful in it's own primitive way and is a very emotional piece of family heirloom history. It is currently my next project to start making a working copy/sister to that gun.

10 ga

[flydoc]

Lets not forget those doubles! The classic lines of a Parker Brothers 12 ga side-by-side, with the fine scroll work and color casehardened receiver is a beauty to behold.

[mpmarty]

Barrett fifty

[TXGunNut]

Awesome. 86 responses and not a one I could disagree with.

[gritsngiggles]

First I love the looks and feel of my Rossi/Taurus 92 and then there's my Springfield M1A. Glad I have both. Next will be a Sharps like Quigly.

[nitroproof]

Fine old doubles with damascus barrels have a soft spot in my heart also...
My L.C. Smith "O" grade:

http://m1023.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/nitroproof_bucket/L%20C%20Smith%200%20Grade%20-%201894/024_23A.jpg.html?pbauth=1_uLEBonVPfaLdh1h3YMYz2Yhx Su2pevujVmzwN%2FA4AIMdhRGIVttKcd%2BW%2BsSd%2B9m2uD P69ri8%2F2UGvSxdwLVzWAmCmoVU8HhglApG%2B1vxTaOsmV%2 FVF96a5Cf80Jw4WuVVznR2Zf0dVHqDyF1%2FQqrxITqe1RtBDK sbvNAjb3%2FRPbzOodx5g%2F9owg%3D%3D

[dancingbear41]

English double rifles are the prettiest. Of what I own, probably my Ruger No.1.

[rond]

I like the BLRs, I have 3 and am looking for another.

[mtnman31]

Classic rifle - Sharps Shiloh
Modern rifle - FN/FAL

[Mlcompound]

I like that Mossberg tactical lever action. ;-)

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I love the Mausers.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/MonkIImausercustom257Robforphotobucket.jpg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/JonB_in_Glencoe/media/MonkIImausercustom257Robforphotobucket.jpg.html)

[btroj]

I like that Mossberg tactical lever action. ;-)

Are you drunk? Stoned? Just stupid?

Please tell me the was sarcasm. Please

[rhadamanthos12]

I like single shots (ruger #1 and Shiloh Sharps) and safari caliber bolt actions and side by sides.

[warpspeed]

Weatherby Mark V Deluxe

70483

[WRideout]

I have liked the genuine Mannlicher Schoenauers since I was a child. They look like a safari in the making.

Wayne

[Mlcompound]

LOL... Very much sarcasm.

[H.Callahan]

All of them?

[fouronesix]

I posted a pic of a Win M1876 NWMP carbine earlier in the thread. But, I don't know if it the most beautiful to my eye. I find that when looking at them my judgement is clouded by knowing such things as the history of a particular model or gun, the engineering simplicity, the quality of material and craftsmanship, the accuracy and on and on... Sometimes after studying one, the lipstick starts to run, revealing the pig. Bottom line- I simply can't pick only one. The best I can do is say I don't much care for tactical, plastic, stamped Mattel.

[19112TAP]

A well made flintlock with some carving and engraving but not to much, somthing on the lines of what Hershal House makes or a Winchester 1886 that Turnbull worked on.

[lbaize3]

A John Bodine Rolling Block in 45-70 is one of the nicest looking rifles I have.

[gew98]

70557Why the gew98 if you had to ask me !. Second would be the SMLE.

[roberto mervicini]

Holland&Holland side by side rifle .450

[Trey45]

I really like the looks of Marlin lever action rifles.

[alrighty]

Nothing trips my trigger like a well built custom rifle.A pre 64 Winchester or Mauser with metal that looks like it grew from the stock.Makers such as Goens , Al and Roger Biesen, Goudy, and Fisher just to name a few.
The Mannlicher Schoenauer 1903 has always got me excited as well.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

about a month ago, I seen a custom 98 Mauser (308win) with fishscale checkering, the LGS owner tells me that "no doubt this one was done I europe" It was very nice, I have no idea how you'd carve those fishscales in the stock, and to my amateur eyes, it looked perfect...and for $900 it should have. I wish I would have taken a photo.
Jon